Genesis Apocryphon

All documents have been found in various states of preservation in twelve caves of the cliffs that parallel the northwest shore of the Dead Sea and in the general location of Qumran.

[5] The scroll was found in the Spring of 1947 by Bedouin shepherds, after throwing a rock into a cave while looking for their lost sheep.

Along with the Isaiah Scroll, the commentary on Habakkuk, and the Manual of Discipline, this document was sold by the Bedouin who discovered it to Mar Athanasius Yeshue Samuel, the superior at the Monastery of Saint Mark the Evangelist and the Virgin Mary of Jerusalem.

[5] The seven main scrolls found in Cave 1 at Qumran, came to be housed in the Shrine of the Book in West Jerusalem.

In 1968, The Jerusalem Post reported that a change in the humidity of the Shrine of the Book had affected the condition of the Genesis Apocryphon.

[6] Writers employed several different methods of rewriting scripture: rearranging passages, adding detail, and clarifying points that were open to misinterpretation.

It records the story of Genesis in the same chronological order, but by using these editing methods, it presents the patriarchs as examples to emulate.

Most prominently, the approach extends scripture by means of supplementation, incorporating traditions from other sources, especially Jubilees and Enochic writings, into the story of Genesis.

Typologically, the Genesis Apocryphon represents a flexible attitude to the scriptural text and the desire to provide deeper insight into the lives of the patriarchs.

Most of the stories are told in first person, written in Hasmonaean Aramaic,[10] and based on biblical narratives but include other subjects and details previously unknown.

Two noteworthy passages added to the account of Genesis are the story of Sarai's extraordinary beauty and Abram's exploration of the Promised Land through a dream.

[11] Due to the scrolls' close proximity to Qumran, the date of composition and the relationship between 1 Enoch and the Book of Jubilees scholars believe the Essenes might be the authors of the Genesis Apocryphon.

Since there have been no other copies found in the 820 fragments at Qumran, Roland de Vaux suggests that it could be the original autograph.

[5] Although the scroll does not present any Essene theology or exegetical, doctrinal meditations demonstrating a clear author,[11] the references to Enoch 1 and the Book of Jubilees suggest that it was accepted and used at Qumran.

This passage is very fragmentary, but seems to contain the story of the Watchers (Heb: עירין) or Nephilim found in 1 Enoch 1–36, based on Gen 6:1–4.

I swear to you by the Great Holy One, by the Ruler of Hea[ven] that this seed is yours, that this pregnancy is from you, that from you is the planting of [this] fruit [and that it is] not from any alien, or from any of the Watchers, or from any heavenly bein[g.] - trans.

It is this overlap that provides the strongest evidence that the Genesis Apocryphon was using the Book of Enoch as a source, rather than being dependent on common traditions.

He marries, has sons and daughters, and arranges marriages to the children of his brother for all his offspring, "in accordance with the law of the eternal statute" (col. 6, line 8).

Some time later, a Watcher, also known as "an emissary of the [Great] Holy One" (col. 6, line 13), comes to Noah with a warning about an upcoming flood.

When the flood has ceased, the ark comes to rest in the Ararat mountains, and Noah leaves the boat to give a thank offering to God.

God appears to Noah and makes a covenant with him to rule over the earth, so long as he and his sons do not consume blood.

Lot tells the attendant the truth, and Pharaoh becomes angry and sends Sarai back to Abram along with a substantial amount of wealth and gifts.

(col. 21, lines 5–7)[9]The Genesis Apocryphon was the most damaged out of the first four scrolls found in Cave 1 making the publication history difficult, lengthy yet interesting.

The extent of the damage included missing fragments, faded lettering, and patches of ink that had leaked through the parchment, requiring infrared imaging technology to render some passages legible.

Martin Abegg and Michael Wise collaborated in 2005 to create an English translation of the Genesis Apocryphon and this is the most recent completed edition of the text.